Hot Topics
Survey Reports
September 8, 2005
Two-In-Three Critical Of Bush's Relief Efforts
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
HURRICANE KATRINA SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
September 6-7, 2005
N = 1,000 (103 Oversample of African-Americans)
Q.1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? [IF DK
ENTER AS DK. IF DEPENDS PROBE ONCE WITH: Overall do you approve or disapprove of the
way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? [IF STILL DEPENDS ENTER AS DK]
Dis- Don't
Approve approve know
September, 2005 40 52 8=100
July, 2005 44 48 8=100
June, 2005 42 49 10=100
May, 2005 43 50 7=100
Late March, 2005 49 46 5=100
Mid-March, 2005 45 46 9=100
February, 2005 46 47 7=100
January, 2005 50 43 7=100
2004
December, 2004 48 44 8=100
Mid-October, 2004 44 48 8=100
August, 2004 46 45 9=100
July, 2004 46 46 8=100
June, 2004 48 43 9=100
May, 2004 44 48 8=100
Late April, 2004 48 43 9=100
Early April, 2004 43 47 10=100
Late March, 2004 47 44 9=100
Mid-March, 2004 46 47 7=100
February, 2004 48 44 8=100
Mid-January, 2004 56 34 10=100
Early January, 2004 58 35 7=100
2003
December, 2003 57 34 9=100
November, 2003 50 40 10=100
October, 2003 50 42 8=100
September, 2003 55 36 9=100
Mid-August, 2003 56 32 12=100
Early August, 2003 53 37 10=100
Mid-July, 2003 58 32 10=100
Early July, 2003 60 29 11=100
June, 2003 62 27 11=100
May, 2003 65 27 8=100
April 10-16, 2003 72 22 6=100
April 9, 2003 74 20 6=100
April 2-7, 2003 69 25 6=100
March 28-April 1, 2003 71 23 6=100
March 25-27, 2003 70 24 6=100
March 20-24, 2003 67 26 7=100
March 13-16, 2003 55 34 11=100
February, 2003 54 36 10=100
January, 2003 58 32 10=100
2002
December, 2002 61 28 11=100
Late October, 2002 59 29 12=100
Early October, 2002 61 30 9=100
Mid-September, 2002 67 22 11=100
Early September, 2002 63 26 11=100
Late August, 2002 60 27 13=100
August, 2002 67 21 12=100
Late July, 2002 65 25 10=100
July, 2002 67 21 12=100
June, 2002 70 20 10=100
April, 2002 69 18 13=100
Early April, 2002 74 16 10=100
February, 2002 78 13 9=100
January, 2002 80 11 9=100
2001
Mid-November, 2001 84 9 7=100
Early October, 2001 84 8 8=100
Late September, 2001 86 7 7=100
Mid-September, 2001 80 9 11=100
Early September, 2001 51 34 15=100
August, 2001 50 32 18=100
July, 2001 51 32 17=100
June, 2001 50 33 17=100
May, 2001 53 32 15=100
April, 2001 56 27 17=100
March, 2001 55 25 20=100
February, 2001 53 21 26=100
Q.2 Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling [INSERT ITEM, RANDOMIZE]
Approve Disapprove DK/Ref.
a. The economy 33 60 7=100
July, 2005 38 53 9=100
Mid-May, 2005 35 57 8=100
February, 2005 43 50 7=100
January, 2005 45 50 5=100
Mid-October, 2004 38 55 7=100
Early September, 2004 44 49 7=100
August, 2004 42 52 6=100
July, 2004 42 52 6=100
June, 2004 43 50 7=100
Early April, 2004 39 53 8=100
Mid-January, 2004 47 47 6=100
September, 2003 43 48 9=100
February, 2003 43 48 9=100
January, 2003 47 45 8=100
Early October, 2002 49 40 11=100
June, 2002 53 36 11=100
January, 2002 60 28 12=100
Early September, 2001 47 44 9=100
February, 2001 50 22 28=100
b. The situation in Iraq 34 58 8=100
July, 2005 35 57 8=100
Mid-May, 2005 37 56 7=100
February, 2005 40 53 7=100
January, 2005 45 50 5=100
Mid-October, 2004 37 56 7=100
Early September, 2004 47 45 8=100
August, 2004 43 52 5=100
July, 2004 42 53 5=100
June, 2004 42 51 7=100
Late April, 2004 44 48 8=100
Early April, 2004 40 53 7=100
Mid-January, 2004 59 37 4=100
September, 2003 52 40 8=100
April 10-16, 2003 77 17 6=100
April 8-9, 2003 71 23 6=100
--April 9, 2003 76 18 6=100
--April 8, 2003 65 28 7=100
April 2-7, 2003 73 21 6=100
March 28-April 1, 2003 69 26 5=100
March 25-27, 2003 73 23 4=100
March 23-24, 2003 72 22 6=100
March 20-22, 2003 70 23 7=100
February, 2003 56 37 7=100
January, 2003 56 36 8=100
Early October, 2002 56 34 10=100
c. Terrorist threats 49 41 10=100
July, 2005 49 40 11=100
Mid-May, 2005 57 35 8=100
February, 2005 59 34 7=100
January, 2005 62 33 5=100
Mid-October, 2004 49 40 11=100
Early September, 2004 62 32 6=100
August, 2004 58 37 5=100
July, 2004 54 40 6=100
June, 2004 56 35 9=100
Late April, 2004 55 36 9=100
Early April, 2004 53 38 9=100
Gallup: December, 2003 65 33 2=100
September, 2003 64 28 8=100
February, 2003 67 25 8=100
January, 2003 69 23 8=100
Early October, 2002 71 22 7=100
June, 2002 74 18 8=100
Mid-September, 2001* 85 6 9=100
Clinton: Early Sept, 1998 72 20 8=100
* In Mid-September, 2001 the question was worded: “...dealing with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington.” In Early September 1998 the question was worded:
“Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling current threats from international
terrorist groups?”
d. The impact of Hurricane
Katrina on New Orleans
and the Gulf Coast 38 52 10=100
Q.3 Right now, which is more important for President Bush to focus on domestic policy or the war on
terrorism? [INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT VOLUNTEERS "HURRICANE RELIEF" ENTER
AS "DOMESTIC POLICY"]
Jan 2005 Aug 2002 Jan 2002
56 Domestic policy 40 29 33
25 War on terrorism 44 43 52
1 Neither (VOL.) 1 1 *
12 Both (VOL.) 13 22 13
6 Don't know/Refused 2 5 2
100 100 100 100
Q.4 Now I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past month. As I read each item,
tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all
closely. [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE.]
Very Fairly Not too Not at all
Closely Closely Closely Closely DK/Ref
a. News about the current situation in Iraq 32 40 20 7 1=100
July, 2005 43 37 13 6 1=100
June, 2005 41 39 12 7 1=100
Mid-May, 2005 42 42 11 5 *=100
Mid-March, 2005 40 39 14 5 2=100
February, 2005 38 45 13 4 *=100
January, 2005 48 37 11 4 *=100
December, 2004 34 44 15 6 1=100
Mid-October, 2004 42 38 11 8 1=100
Early September, 2004 47 37 9 6 1=100
August, 2004 39 42 12 6 1=100
July, 2004 43 40 11 6 *=100
June, 2004 39 42 12 6 1=100
April, 2004 54 33 8 5 *=100
Mid-March, 2004 47 36 12 4 1=100
Early February, 2004 47 38 10 4 1=100
Mid-January, 2004 48 39 9 4 *=100
December, 2003 44 38 11 6 1=100
November, 2003 52 33 9 5 1=100
October, 2003 38 40 14 7 1=100
September, 2003 50 33 10 6 1=100
Mid-August, 2003 45 39 10 5 1=100
Early July, 2003 37 41 13 8 1=100
June, 2003 46 35 13 6 *=100
May, 2003 63 29 6 2 *=100
April 11-16, 2003 47 40 10 2 1=100
April 2-7, 2003 54 34 9 2 1=100
March 20-24, 2003 57 33 7 2 1=100
March 13-16, 2003 62 27 6 4 1=100
February, 2003 62 25 8 4 1=100
January, 2003 55 29 10 4 2=100
December, 2002 51 32 10 6 1=100
Late October, 2002 53 33 8 5 1=100
Early October, 2002 60 28 6 5 1=100
Early September, 2002 48 29 15 6 2=100
b. The high price of gasoline these days 71 19 7 3 *=100
Mid-May, 2005 58 27 9 5 1=100
Mid-March, 2005 50 32 13 5 *=100
Mid-October, 2004 64 22 8 5 1=100
August, 2004 52 29 10 8 1=100
July, 2004 56 25 11 7 1=100
June, 2004 58 26 9 6 1=100
April, 2004 46 30 15 8 1=100
Early April, 2004 58 23 10 8 1=100
Mid-March, 2004 47 27 14 10 2=100
September, 2003 45 27 15 11 1=100
March, 2003 52 27 11 9 1=100
February, 2003 53 25 12 9 1=100
June, 2001 56 31 7 5 1=100
May, 2001 61 26 6 6 1=100
Early October, 2000 56 25 12 6 1=100
June, 2000* 61 25 9 5 *=100
March, 2000 58 28 10 4 *=100
October, 1990 62 26 8 4 *=100
September, 1990 56 28 11 5 *=100
August, 1990 57 27 10 5 1=100
* In August 1990 through June 2000 the story was listed as "Recent increases in the price of gasoline."
c. The impact of Hurricane Katrina on
New Orleans and the Gulf Coast 70 21 7 2 *=100
July, 2005 (Hurricanes affecting the Gulf Coast) 38 37 17 8 *=100
Early October, 2002 (Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana) 38 34 18 10 *=100
d. The nomination of John Roberts as Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court 18 26 25 29 2=100
July, 2005 (Retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor)24 29 24 22 1=100
Q.5 How much of a problem has the rising price of gasoline been for you and your family lately [READ]?
33 A very serious problem
36 A somewhat serious problem
21 A minor problem
10 Not a problem at all
* Don't know/Refused [VOL. DO NOT READ]
100
Q.6 How have you been getting most of your news about the impact of Hurricane Katrina? From television,
from newspapers, from radio, from magazines, or from the Internet? [ACCEPT TWO ANSWERS: IF
ONLY ONE RESPONSE IS GIVEN, PROBE FOR ADDITIONAL RESPONSE]
News- Other Don't Know/
Television papers Radio Magazines Internet (VOL) Refused
September, 2005 89 35 17 * 21 3 *
June, 2005* 74 44 22 5 24 2 1
December, 2004 74 46 21 4 24 2 3
October, 2003 80 50 18 4 20 2 1
August, 2003 79 46 15 3 18 2 1
Early July, 2003 79 45 16 5 19 1 *
March, 2003 (War in Iraq) 89 24 19 * 11 2 *
February, 2003 83 42 19 4 15 3 *
January, 2003 81 44 22 4 17 2 1
January, 2002 82 42 21 3 14 2 *
Mid-September, 2001 (Terror Attacks) 90 11 14 * 5 1 1
Early September, 2001 74 45 18 6 13 1 *
February, 2001 76 40 16 4 10 2 1
October, 1999 80 48 19 5 11 2 *
January, 1999 82 42 18 4 6 2 *
January, 1996 88 61 25 8 -- 2 *
September, 1995 82 63 20 10 -- 1 1
January, 1994 83 51 15 10 -- 5 1
September, 1993 83 60 17 9 -- 3 *
January, 1993 83 52 17 5 -- 1 1
Early January, 1991 82 40 15 4 -- 1 *
* In June 2005 and earlier the question was worded “news about national and international issues,” except in
March 2003, when the question was worded “news about the war in Iraq,” and in Mid-September 2001, when the
question was worded “news about the terrorist attacks.” In September 1995, question wording did not include
“international.” In Early January 1991 the question asked about “the latest developments in the Persian Gulf.”
IF '1' TELEVISION AS EITHER 1ST OR 2ND RESPONSE IN Q.6 ASK:
Q.6a Have you been getting most of your news about the disaster from [READ, RANDOMIZE ITEMS 2
THRU 4 AND 5 THRU 8 SEPARATELY, AND RANDOMIZE SETS OF ITEMS (LOCAL;
NETWORK; CABLE). ACCEPT MULTIPLE ANSWERS BUT DO NOT PROBE FOR
ADDITIONAL]
Early
BASED ON TOTAL: June Dec Oct Aug July Jan
2005 2004 2003 2003 2003 2002
19 Local news programming 13 15 17 17 17 16
14 ABC Network news 12 11 12 12 12 11
8 CBS Network news 9 9 8 10 11 11
12 NBC Network news 12 14 13 15 14 15
31 CNN Cable news 18 20 20 26 27 28
9 MSNBC Cable news 5 6 6 7 9 8
22 The Fox News Cable Channel 16 19 17 18 22 16
3 CNBC Cable news 2 3 -- 3 3 4
3 (DO NOT READ) Don't know/Refused 4 3 4 4 3 2
ASK ALL:
Q.7 In general, how would you rate the job the press has done in covering the impact of Hurricane Katrina on
New Orleans and the Gulf Coast [READ]
Terrorist Attacks
Sept 2001
28 Excellent 56
37 Good 33
18 Only fair 6
15 Poor 3
2 Don't know/Refused 2
100 100
Q.8 Do you think news organizations are giving too much, too little, or the right amount of coverage to the
impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast?
Terrorist Attacks
Early Oct
2001
21 Too much coverage 32
13 Too little coverage 2
62 Right amount of coverage 63
4 Don't know/Refused 3
100 100
Q.9 Have you yourself felt depressed because of what's happened in areas affected by the hurricane?
Don't know/
Yes No Refused
September, 2005 58 41 1=100
April 2-7, 2003 (Iraq War) 36 63 1=100
March 28-April 1, 2003 (Iraq War) 41 58 1=100
March 25-27, 2003 (Iraq War) 40 59 1=100
March 23-24, 2003 (Iraq War) 35 63 2=100
March 20-22, 2003 (Iraq War) 30 69 1=100
Early November, 2001 (Terror Attack) 24 75 1=100
Mid-October, 2001 (Terror Attack) 31 66 3=100
Early October, 2001 (Terror Attack) 42 57 1=100
Mid-September, 2001 (Terror Attack) 71 27 2=100
Late January, 1991 (Gulf War) 50 49 1=100
Q.10 Have you yourself felt angry because of what's happened in areas affected by the hurricane?
Terrorist Attacks
Early Oct
2001
50 Yes 87
50 No 12
* Don't know/Refused 1
100 100
Q.11 Do you, yourself, have a close personal friend or relative who was directly affected by the hurricane, or
not?
24 Yes
75 No
1 Don't Know/Refused
100
Q.12 How concerned are you that the impact of Hurricane Katrina will cause a nationwide economic recession?
[READ]
46 Very concerned
34 Somewhat concerned
11 Not too concerned
7 Not at all concerned
2 Don't know/Refused [VOL. DO NOT READ]
100
ROTATE Q.13 Q.14
Q.13 How would you rate the job state and local governments in Louisiana and Mississippi have been doing
responding to Hurricane Katrina? [READ]
9 Excellent
32 Good
29 Only fair
22 Poor
8 Don't know/Refused [VOL. DO NOT READ]
100
Q.14 How would you rate the job the federal government has been doing responding to Hurricane Katrina?
[READ]
8 Excellent
30 Good
29 Only fair
29 Poor
4 Don't know/Refused [VOL. DO NOT READ]
100
IF 'ONLY FAIR' OR 'POOR' (3,4 IN Q.14) ASK [N=603]:
Q.15 From what you've seen and read, what was the biggest reason why the FEDERAL government did not do a
good job responding to this emergency [READ AND RANDOMIZE]
33 Lack of planning for this type of emergency
29 Lack of coordination among government agencies
32 Poor leadership in Washington
6 [VOL. DO NOT READ] Don't know/Refused
100
ASK ALL:
Q.16 In your opinion, did President Bush do all he could to get relief efforts going quickly or do you think he
could have done more?
28 Did all he could
67 Could have done more
5 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.17 Thinking about the people who stayed in New Orleans during the storm and became stranded by the
flooding, do you think [READ AND ROTATE]
29 Most stayed behind because they wanted to
OR
62 Most stayed behind because they didn't have a way to leave the city
9 [VOL. DO NOT READ] Don't know/Refused
100
Q.18 In your view, did this disaster show that racial inequality remains a major problem in this country, or don't
you think this was a particularly important lesson of the disaster?
38 Showed that racial inequality remains a major problem
50 Not a particularly important lesson of the disaster
12 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.19 Do you think the severity of Hurricane Katrina is the result of global climate change, or is Hurricane
Katrina just the kind of severe weather event that happens from time to time?
25 Result of global climate change
66 Just happens from time to time
9 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.20 Have you or anyone in your household made a donation to help those affected by the hurricane, are you
planning to do so, or is this something you don't think you will do right now?
Earthquake/Tsunami
in Indian Ocean
Jan 2005
56 Yes, have made a donation 30
28 Planning to do so 30
15 No, don't think will donate right now 37
1 Don't know/Refused (VOL) 3
100 100
NO QUESTION 21
Q.22 Has what you've seen, heard and read in the wake of Hurricane Katrina made you more optimistic about
human nature or more pessimistic about human nature?
59 More optimistic
22 More pessimistic
9 Made no difference (VOL.)
10 Don't know/Refused
100
NO QUESTIONS 23 - 25
Q.26 Were you, personally, surprised by incidents of violence and looting in New Orleans during the disaster, or
didn't this surprise you?
44 Surprised
55 Not surprised
1 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.27 Do you think the people who took things from businesses and homes in New Orleans were [READ AND
ROTATE]
41 Mostly ordinary people trying to survive during an emergency
OR
35 Mostly criminals trying to take advantage of the situation
18 [VOL. DO NOT READ] Both/Depends
6 [VOL. DO NOT READ] Don't know/Refused
100
Q.28 Do you think the people who committed violent acts in New Orleans were [READ AND ROTATE]
27 Mostly ordinary people who became desperate during an emergency
OR
57 Mostly criminals trying to take advantage of the situation
9 [VOL. DO NOT READ] Both/Depends
7 [VOL. DO NOT READ] Don't know/Refused
100
Q.29 Has the government's response to this disaster affected your confidence in the government's ability to
handle a major terrorist attack, or not? [IF YES: Has it made you more confident or less confident?]
7 Yes, more confident
42 Yes, less confident
46 No
5 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Q.30 Most of the people stranded in New Orleans following the hurricane were African-American. Do you think
the government's response to the situation would have been faster if most of the victims had been white, or
don't you think this would have made any difference?
26 Yes, would have been faster
68 No, wouldn't have made any difference
6 Don't know/Refused
100
On a different subject for a moment
Q.31 From what you've heard or read, do you think the U.S. Senate should or should not confirm John Roberts
as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
35 Should
19 Should not
46 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.32 From what you've heard or read, are you concerned that John Roberts is too conservative, too liberal, or
aren't you concerned about his ideology?
20 Concerned that he is too conservative
5 Concerned that he is too liberal
39 Not concerned about his ideology
36 Don't know/Refused
100
Now, just a few questions for statistical purposes only...
PARTY In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?
(VOL) (VOL)
No Other
Trend Republican Democrat Independent Preference Party Don't know
September, 2005 27 33 33 4 * 3=100
July, 2005 31 34 29 4 * 2=100
June, 2005 30 32 32 4 * 2=100
May, 2005 30 34 29 4 * 3=100
March, 2005 30 34 29 4 * 3=100
February, 2005 31 32 30 4 1 2=100
January, 2005 32 33 30 4 * 1=100
December, 2004 31 34 30 3 * 2=100
Mid-October, 2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
Late September, 2004 29 30 31 6 * 4=100
Mid-September, 2004 29 31 30 5 * 5=100
Early September, 2004 30 33 31 3 * 3=100
August, 2004 31 35 27 4 * 3=100
July, 2004 29 33 32 3 * 3=100
June, 2004 30 34 31 3 * 2=100
May, 2004 29 35 26 5 1 4=100
Early May, 2004 27 34 31 4 1 3=100
Late April, 2004 30 31 31 5 * 3=100
Early April, 2004 31 32 28 4 1 4=100
Late March, 2004 30 34 28 4 * 4=100
March, 2004 27 35 32 4 * 2=100
Mid-February, 2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
Early February, 2004 31 33 31 3 * 2=100
Mid-January, 2004 31 31 31 4 1 2=100
Early January, 2004 29 34 31 4 * 2=100
Yearly Totals
2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
2003 30 31 31 5 * 3=100
2002 30 31 30 5 1 3=100
2001 29 34 29 5 * 3=100
2001 Post-Sept 11 31 32 28 5 1 3=100
2001 Pre-Sept 11 28 35 30 5 * 2=100
2000 28 33 29 6 * 4=100
1999 27 33 34 4 * 2=100
1998 28 33 32 5 * 2=100
1997 28 33 32 4 1 2=100
No Preference/
Other/DK
1996 29 33 33 5=100
1995 32 30 34 4=100
1994 30 32 34 4=100
1993 27 34 34 5=100
1992 28 33 35 4=100
1991 31 32 33 4=100
1990 31 33 30 6=100
Independent/
No Pref/Oth/DK
1989 33 33 34=100
1987 26 35 39=100
(All party identification trends based on general public.)
IF ANSWERED 3, 4, 5 OR 9 IN PARTY, ASK:
PARTYLN As of today do you lean more to the Republican Party or more to the Democratic Party?
Refused
Republican Democrat to lean
September, 2005 10 15 15=40%
July, 2005 9 15 11=35%
June, 2005 10 16 12=38%
Mid-May, 2005 9 13 14=36%
Late March, 2005 13 17 9=39%
December, 2004 14 12 9=35%
August, 2003 12 16 14=42%
August, 2002 12 13 13=38%
September, 2000 11 13 15=39%
Late September, 1999 14 15 16=45%
August, 1999 15 15 12=42%
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